Author: lawofar18.
Pairing/Interaction: Alexander Anderson and Father Renaldo.
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Training Session
"Shoot me."
He could see the hand that held the gun quivering with weakening resolve, could
feel the frailty of human will spreading. And he knew that he could not let it
touch him at any cost. Human weakness was contagious. A festering, creeping,
spreading burden he had long given up.
For he was no longer human. Was he?
"SHOOT ME."
BANG!
The impact of the bullet ripped through his tall shuddering frame and knocked
him back, despite his efforts to withstand the shot. He stumbled backwards, his
strength as futile as a blade of grass in the wind. He could feel himself
regenerating, parts knitting agonizingly back together. A searing burn in his
shoulder forcing his body to heal.
I must not show pain. I must not show weakness. I am the messenger of God. I
cannot show up deficient in the face of temptation and suffering. I can face
the devil after forty days or more.
Father Renaldo could see the younger man gritting his teeth and bracing
himself. He knew what was coming before the paladin spoke.
"Again. Shoot me again."
He wanted to protest. Wanted to point out that the blonde priest had not yet
recovered from the last barrage of bullets. Wanted to call him out on all the
pain he knew the regenerator was hiding. Wanted to protest against the sheer
ridiculousness of training by wantonly shooting oneself. But he didn't say
anything. He never said anything.
Steeling himself, he held up the gun again, aiming it straight between those
piercing green eyes.
Who was he to disobey orders?
But how he hated to be the one assigned to Paladin Alexander Anderson's
training sessions.